International Cricket Stadium is not a project of J&K Govt: Omar Abdullah

Jammu: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today assured the House that his government remains committed to the development of administrative units created under his previous tenure and will ensure the necessary infrastructure is built over time.

Replying to a supplementary question from MLA G.A. Mir, the Chief Minister stated that the construction of the Mini Secretariat Dooru was initiated in 2018 by JKPCC at an estimated cost of Rs. 590 lakh. He informed the House that work has been completed up to the plinth level, and part payments have been made accordingly. However, a Detailed Project Report (DPR) amounting to Rs. 598.91 lakh was prepared by PWD, but the required Administrative Approval (AA) and Technical Sanction (TS) have not been accorded. “Out of the total estimated cost of Rs. 590 lakh, an amount of Rs. 25 lakh was released under the District Budget 2017-18, which has been utilized against the total work done claims of Rs. 39 lakh.

The work has been completed up to the plinth level,” the Chief Minister said. He further stated that a revised DPR of Rs. 598.91 lakh was prepared by PWD in 2021, but it requires reassessment in line with the latest Schedule of Rates (SoRs), considering the impact of cost escalation. A final decision will be taken once this reassessment is completed.

Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, today clarified that the proposed International Cricket Stadium at Bajalta in Jammu was not a project initiated by the Jammu and Kashmir government.

“The proposal for the cricket stadium was initiated by the Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) but did not materialize. It was not a project of J&K government,” Chief Minister said while intervening during the Question Hour in the Legislative Assembly.

Earlier, replying to the main question raised by Sham Lal Sharma, Minister for Youth Services and Sports, Satish Sharma, said that there was no such proposal by the Youth Services & Sports Department for establishment of International Cricket Stadium at Bajalta in Jammu.

The Minister informed the House that playfields are available in various schools in Jammu East Constituency wherein sports activities are being carried throughout the year by the staff of Youth Services & Sports Department. These schools included GGHSS Mubarakh Mandi, SRML Parade, GHSS Center Basis, GHSS Hari Singh, GHSS Julakha Mohalla, GHS City Chowk, HSS Khana Chargal, HS Bain Bajalta and HS Chak Largen.

5868 appointment orders issued to beneficiaries under PM Special Package: Dy CM

Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary, today said that, out of 6000 posts under PM Special Package for Kashmiri Migrants/Non Migrant Kashmiri Pandits, 5868 appointment orders have been issued to the beneficiaries, so far.

The Deputy Chief Minister was replying to a question raised by M Y Tarigami in the Legislative Assembly.

He said that 5724 posts had been issued up to 2023-24 fiscal while appointment orders in respect of 144 posts have been issued during the current financial year till date, bringing the total figure to 5868 out of 6000 posts under the package. He said that the remaining 132 posts are at various stages including 42 posts pending due to Court cases.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that the Prime Minister announced Return a Package for Rehabilitation of Kashmiri Migrants to Kashmir Valley amounting Rs.1618.40 crore in the year 2009. He said that housing, transit accommodation, continuation of cash relief to migrants, student scholarships, employment, assistance to Horticulturalists and Agriculturalists and waiver of interest on loans are among the components being covered under the package.

He said that construction of 6000 transit accommodations was sanctioned in different districts of Kashmir Valley during December 2015 and work on 5160 flats have been taken up for construction. Of this, 3120 flats have been completed up to ending January, 2025 while the remaining 2040 flats are still under construction. Moreover, the remaining 840 flats are likely to be taken-up shortly.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that the matter of enhancement in relief benefits has been taken up with the Government of India for consideration of enhancement/grant of full relief benefits in favour of new born babies of Kashmiri Migrants from Rs. 400 per month to Rs. 3250 per month without disturbing the ceiling of Rs. 13000 per family per month.

He maintained that the ex-gratia compensation for the damaged properties due to bomb blast/fire incidents of migrants is being disbursed as per assessment made by the R&B department and the concerned Tehsildars. However, there is no such order regarding settlement of unpaid balance of ex-gratia in addition to Rs. 1.00 lakh already paid at the time of sanction of such compensation.

With regard to reallocation of posts, the Deputy Chief Minister said that, pursuant to Cabinet Decision 3000, supernumerary posts were created in second tranche in addition to 3000 posts created in the year 2009 (First Tranche) and referred to recruitment agencies. He said that the progress with respect to filling up of these posts was reviewed in the year 2020 and it was found that 1997 posts were still unfilled and were withdrawn from different departments. Consequent upon withdrawal, the same number of posts were re-allocated to four departments viz. Finance, Agriculture Production, Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs and Revenue, he added.

He added that the posts of Junior Assistants, Legal Stenographers, Junior Engineers and Draftsman (Civil/ Mechanical) were among the 1997 withdrawn posts.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that the government has not constituted any Shrines and Temples Management Committee. However, constant security vigil is being kept on the Shrines and Temples to ensure protection of these places. Any violation to religious properties is taken cognizance of by the competent authority with timely action for eviction, custody and restoration of such properties and also action under law against the violators.

Dr Narinder Singh Raina, Bashir Ahmad Veeri, Altaf Ahmad Wani, Showkat Ahmad Ganie, Hasnain Masoodi, Mir Saifullah, Kuldeep Raj Dubey, Balwant Singh Mankotia, R S Pathania raised the supplementary.

Govt working on strengthening existing 4000 health institutions: Sakeena Itoo

Says PHC Thanamandi upgraded to CHC in 1999

JAMMU, MARCH 25: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, today informed the House that the government is working on strengthening the 4000 existing health institutions at various levels as per IPHS norms 2022 in order to provide robust medical care facilities to the people.

The Minister said this while replying to a question raised by Muzaffar Iqbal Khan.

She said that PHC Thanamandi was upgraded to CHC in the year 1999 with existing sanctioned staff strength. She added that, at present, against 03 sanctioned posts of Doctors, 02 are posted and against 21 Paramedic staff, 16 are posted at CHC Thanamandi. She informed that the issue regarding creation of posts shall be taken up with the Finance Department.

The Minister further informed the house that in various health institutions of medical blocks Darhal and Manjkote like CHC Darhal, PHC Lah, PHC Thanamandi, PHC Shahdhara Sharief, PHC Manjakote, PHC Ghambir Mughlan, PHC Kallar Chatyar and PHC Bagla Ndyala, against 35 sanctioned posts, 19 are in position and 16 are vacant.

She also informed that under NHM, against six sanctioned posts, five are vacant.

The Minister further said that the common masses, seeking medical attention, are also being facilitated through rationalization and developing a robust e-sanjeevani/tele-medicine through a well designed hub and spoke model.

SED receives demands for up-gradation from various schools of Budgam district: Sakeena Itoo

Department facing staff shortage due to freezing of posts of GLTs by SAC decision of 2018

Minister for Education, Sakeena Itoo, today said that the School Education Department (SED) has received demands for up-gradation of various schools of Budgam district.

These schools included Middle School Mazahama, Girls Middle School Kanihama, Middle School Rassu and Middle School Charangam, S.K Pora, Rathson and Aripathan.

The Minister said this while replying to a question raised by Dr. Shafi Ahmad Wani.

The Minister informed the house that the department has no immediate proposal for up-gradation of schools as numbers of these institutions have already been upgraded. She added that the department is presently focusing on creation of required infrastructure and providing staff to all schools, especially the upgraded ones.

The Minister also informed that up-gradation of schools involves huge financial implications for creation of infrastructure and posts of teaching staff. She added that the Education Department faces shortage of teaching staff as no recruitment of teachers could be made for the past five years due to freezing of posts of General Line Teachers (GLTs) by the State Administrative Council (SAC) decision of 2018.

The Minister further said that as and when the department proposes up-gradation of schools, the said schools of Budgam district shall be considered.

GoI releases Rs 14.75 cr for 4 projects under Khelo India scheme in 2018-19: Satish Sharma

Minister for Youth Services and Sports, Satish Sharma, said that the Government of India has released Rs 14.75 crore for 4 projects sanctioned under Khelo India Scheme during the year 2018-19, against which Rs 13.67 crore have been expended, so far.

The Minister was replying to a question raised by Shiekh Khursheed Ahmed.

The Minister informed the House that out of the four projects, two have been completed and are functional while two projects are under process. He added that the sanctioned projects included construction of Rs 533.61 lakh Synthetic Hockey Turf at Pologround Srinagar and construction of Rs 539.78 lakh synthetic Hockey Turf at K.K Hakku Stadium Jammu besides under construction synthetic Athletic Track at Tulibal Sopore, Baramulla and under construction Rs 294.11 lakh Indoor sports hall at Shalinar, Budgam.

The Minister said that Khelo India scheme is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Gol, and is not a constituency based scheme. He said that no project has been sanctioned under Khelo India scheme in Langate constituency for development of sports infrastructure. However, various play fields have been developed under Capex amounting Rs 191.25 lakh. These included Rs 85.02 lakh play field at Pandithpora langate, 23.13 lakh play field at Ashpora, Rs 11.96 lakh play field at Kutlari Mawer, Rs 12.00 lakh football ground at kulangam, Rs. 39.14 lakh Roll skating at Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Langate while Rs 20 lakh open Air Gym at kulangam is under execution.